Clan Blair (Blair Tartan)

1. About Clan Blair (Blair Tartan)

2. Clan Blair History (Blair Tartan)

The name Blair is derived from the Gaelic word "Blar," which means "open space or field" and is thus used in a variety of place names throughout Scotland.

Although the name was once more often written "Blare," this spelling has long since disappeared.

Despite the fact that many people have the surname Blair, it is generally recognized that the name alludes to two distinct clans: the Blairs of Blair from Ayrshire and the Blairs of Balthayock from Perthshire.

2.1 THE BLAIRS OF BLAIR

Timothy Pont makes reference to the records of the Kilwinning Monastery in 1608. These documents demonstrate that King William I of Scots (1165–1214), bestowed the title Barony of Blair upon Jean Francois (John Francis) of Normandy.

Along with the title, he would have received land, giving the family a significant amount of power. One of King John of England's daughters is believed to have been married to William de Blair, the grandson of John Francis de Blair.

A staunch ally of Sir William Wallace, his successor, Sir Bryce de Blair, was killed in the Barns of Ayr massacre in 1296.
After fighting beside him at Bannockburn in 1314, Sir Bryce's nephew Roger de Blair was given a knighthood by Robert the Bruce.

Following this, the clan rose to prominence in the area and had a number of successful marriages up until 1732, when William Blair of Blair's death brought an end to the clan's original line of succession.

Northern Ayrshire is home to Blair Castle, also known as Blair House, which served as the Blairs of Blair's ancestral home. By 1201, a stone Norman Keep with a moat and drawbridge had taken its place, which had originally been a wooden structure.

This Norman building is still there in Blair House today.

2.2 THE BLAIRS OF BALTHAYOCK

Stephen de Blair, who had property in the region that is now known as Blairgowrie, is the ancestor of the Blairs of Balthayock. He lived in the 12th century.

A witness to a charter of property at Balgillo (in Angus) named by an abbot of the abbey of Arbroath is the same Stephen de Blare/Blair.

Alexander de Blair, another Blair of Balthayock, who was most likely Stephens' son and who witnessed a charter in or around 1214.

He acquired the Cults holdings in Fife, which the Blairs had long owned, when he wed Ela, Hugh de Nyden's daughter. William de Blair, Alexander's son, was knighted by King Alexander II of Scotland and appointed Steward of Fife in 1235.

The book "The Blairs of Balthayock and Their Cadets" by Jack Blair, which is available from the Clan Blair Society, contains more information about the history of the Blairs of Balthayock.

For many years, the two families fought about who should hold the Chiefship. By declaring in 1658 that "The eldest male of either of the two Families would have precedence over the younger to the Chieftainship," King James VI finally put an end to the conflict.

Despite the fact that this assertion implies a connection between the two families, there are no records of marriages between Ayrshire and Perthshire, and given that the two families' coats of arms are distinct, it is most likely true that the two families have distinct ancestries.

3. Clan Blair Tartans

Modern family tartan that is straightforward but powerful is the Blair tartan. The Scottish Tartan Society measured the threadcount of a hand-colored tartan strip that had been in James Mackinlay's collection since the 1920s or 1930s.

'Modern' refers to the color's tint, which is typically darker.

G/12 R6 G48 K36 B48 R6 B/12 Threadcount

Blair Modern

4. Clan Blair Crest & Coats of Arms

4.1 Clan Blair Crest

Worn by all of the name and ancestry

4.2 Clan Blair Coats of Arms

Note on Coats of Arms: A coat of arms is given to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist.

With the exclusions listed above, the weapons depicted below are personal weapons. The only person authorized to use these weapons is the grantee.

5. Clan Blair Places & People

5.1 John Blair (c1300)

A Benedictine monk named John Blair served as Sir William Wallace's chaplain and comrade in arms while he was Scotland's governor. He also wrote on Wallace's life.

5.2 John Blair (died – 1782)

John was born and raised in Edinburgh, but he left Scotland when he was young to work as an usher at a school in London's Hedge Lane.

The Chronology and History of the World, from Creation to the Year of Christ 1753, was published by him in 1754. Reprints of it appeared in 1756, 1768, and 1814. Willoughby Rosse updated and expanded it for publication in Bohn's "Scientific Library" in 1856. He was chosen as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1755.

He served as the Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha's chaplain and the Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany's math instructor in 1757. He was selected as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1761.

5.3 Robert Blair (1748–1828)

The University of Edinburgh appointed Robert Blair as its first Regius Professor of Astronomy in 1785. He also came up with the term for the aplanatic lens. This was an important development in the effort to lessen optical system aberration. He also conducted experiments using hollow glasses that contained various liquids.